Southampton residents evacuated after gas cylinder causes fire at vehicle repair workshop

Residents had to be evacuated from their homes while firefighters dealt with a fire involving a gas cylinder at a car workshop in Southampton last night (5 January).

More than 30 people – including seven children – had to leave their homes while crews from St Mary’s, Redbridge and Romsey dealt with the incident in Endle Street.

Firefighters were called at just before 20:50 and colleagues from Hampshire Police put a 25-metre exclusion zone in place.

Crews used jets to cool one acetlyne gas cylinder and prevent the fire from spreading.

Station Manager Phil Foxton said: “A total of 32 people had to leave their homes due to the exclusion zone being put in place and the police took them to the Red Funnel Building where they were looked after by a member of the emergency planning team.”

The fire was out by 22:30 but firefighters from St Mary’s remained on scene to continue cooling the site. All crews had left by 23:00 and the exclusion zone was lifted later.